SOCHI, Russia – The hockey fans of the world, casual and diehards, have turned their attention to this city on the Black Sea, eager for the start of what could be the most exciting international hockey tournament in a generation.

It should be thrilling. It should be great theater. It should be … oh no, is that Gary Bettman? And is he talking about the future of NHL players participating in the Olympics?

“It’s nothing that’s been discussed,” Bettman said. “It’s nothing that will be discussed while we’re here in Sochi.”

Cue the sad trombone …

Womp, wommmmp.

This was today’s buzz kill, and the reality about what we’re going to see in the next five days. Enjoy it while you can, because there is a strong possibility – maybe even a likelihood – that the NHL will decide not to shutdown its season so its players can compete in the 2018 Olympics in South Korea.

Bettman talks about a “balancing act” in the decision making process, but as with everything else in professional sports, this comes down to money. The league gets none of it from the IOC, and owners are tired of seeing their arenas dark for two and a half weeks in February.

“There’s no benefit to us whatsoever,” Flyers owner Ed Snider said. “If anything, I can only see negatives.”

The key part of that quote are two tiny words in the middle: to us. If the NHL pulls its players out of the Olympics, it will let the almighty bottom line blind itself from the overriding benefits of how this event helps expose and grow the sport on an international level.

Having the NHL here is good for hockey. This is beyond debate. International Ice Hockey Federation president Rene Fasel was answering a question about the slow growth of women’s hockey – and the continuing Canada and U.S. dominance – when Bettman interrupted.

“I think there was discussion either in Vancouver or Torino about the debate over whether or not to eliminate women’s hockey from the Olympics because it wasn’t competitive,” Bettman said. “On behalf of hockey we would be distressed if there were any…

“That will never happen,” Fasel quickly added. “I can guarantee that will never happen.”

On “behalf of hockey,” from a man who canceled an entire NHL season? Nice how Bettman can speak for the sport when the outcome doesn’t affect his league and its profits. But, when it involves the NHL being here, it’s all about his league, his players, his schedule.

No one denies that the NHL makes sacrifices to come here, which it has done every year since 1998 in Nagano, Japan. But those sacrifices are worth the added benefit of casual fans – potential customers – setting their alarms for 7:30 am so they can watch USA-Russia.

“In the long run, it’s good for the game, it’s good for hockey,” American star Patrick Kane said last week. “And anyone that doesn’t see it that way is crazy.”

The players are not going to give the NHL an easy out. They seem to universally appreciate the two-week break, be it staying in the Olympic village or playing for their country. The NHL is pursuing the idea of resuscitating the hockey World Cup, but that’ll just be another World Baseball Classic – a fine event that won’t capture the imagination of casual fans.

Maybe jealousy is at play for the owners, too. It must be hard to see the passion here during the Olympic quarterfinals, only to come back and see a half-empty arena for Nashville vs. Florida. Bettman bristled when a reporter asked about the high-level of play here, and it’s hard to blame him.

The Olympics upstage the NHL regular season. There is no scenario here – be it Russia winning on home soil, or the U.S. winning for the first time since 1980, or the Canadians defending their gold, or another upstart team making a surprise run – that won’t be interesting.

But the NHL shouldn’t feel threatened. Its core fans will still embrace the Stanley Cup playoffs, and based on the added exposure here, maybe a few new ones. Even the owners who are adamant that the Olympics don’t help their business have to acknowledge this: They can’t hurt it.

“As a practical business matter, for the clubs individually, the Olympics have no tangible positive effect,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said. “Certainly for the visibility of ice hockey – which is good, big-picture, for the National Hockey League – it’s good.”

Bettman said the decision could come in the next six months – which is hard to believe, given that the league waited until last July before signing off on coming this time around. Hockey fans should just hope it hasn’t already been made.

Bettman and his owners need to see past their bottom lines and do what’s best for the good of their sport. Future generations should have a chance to see Olympic hockey at its best.